4.4 Harnessing enthusiasm
While these advantages of using ABMs for policy evaluation (e.g. unabridged
modeling, heterogeneity, particularity, transparency, God mode) may get policy
makers interested, one still needs to win them over for a particular project by
having them accept the limitations (discussed in the next section). To harness the
enthusiasm of policy makers, modeler-researchers need to ensure that they
subscribe to (possibly limiting) operational definitions and support the (possibly
limited) research questions that can thus be answered. To do so, it is of paramount
importance that policy makers are involved in the actual design and progressive
adorning of the ABM. Whenever policy makers provide modeling input, they can
interpret, appreciate, and use the output. Do note that this is in fact a serious
challenge, because the modeler-researchers should then be involved early on in the
policy research process and should also have policy makers dedicate time and
resources in assisting in the actual modeling.